Consider two excellent (and very different) season-opening productions at the Canadian Opera Company: There’s La Bohème on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. You’ll find my review here, production details here — and I especially recommend Sunday’s cast.
For something more psychologically gripping, there’s Peter Grimes on Wednesday and one final performance on Saturday (my review here, production details here).
MONDAY
- Benjamin Bowman, Winona Zelenka and Mauro Bertoli at Gallery 345, 8 p.m.
The concertmaster of the National Ballet Orchestra, Toronto Symphony cellist and an impressive young Italian pianist transplanted to Ottawa propose an evening of trios by Beethoven and Brahms in this intimate Parkdale gallery-concert space. I can’t imagine a better way of putting some Romantic fire into a damp autumn evening. For (the very few) additional details, click here.
TUESDAY
- Members of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, noon. Free.
Michael Shannon accompanies baritones Clarence Frazer in Ralph Vaughan Williams’ masterful Songs of Travel and Cameron McPhail in The House of Life. If that weren’t enough to occupy a lunch break, we have mezzo Danielle MacMillan singing two poems by Elizabeth Bishop set to music by Chris DeBlasio and soprano Claire de Sévigné presenting André Previn’s Honey and Rue, a setting of three poems by Toni Morrison.
THURSDAY
- Soprano Miriam Khalil in recital at Gallery 345, 7:30 p.m.
One of the remarkable young talents of Toronto’s upstart Against the Grain Theatre presents an evening of French and Spanish art song accompanied by accomplished Acadian pianist Julien LeBlanc. You can find all the details for their rich programme here.
THURSDAY TO SUNDAY
- Soulpepper Theatre’s 6th annual Global Cabaret Festival at the Young Centre, Distillery District.
The annual celebration of everything from chamber opera to embellished artsong and jazz takes places at the Young Centre from Oct. 24 to 27. It is well worth checking out here — and I’ll have more details about specific shows later in the week.
THURSDAY & SATURDAY
- Pianist Janina Fialkowska and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall — 2 p.m. Thu., 7:30 p.m. Sat.
Canada’s great Romantic pianist joins impressive guest conductor James Gaffigan in a programme featuring a revelation: one of the great obscure piano concertos of the late 20th century. I’ll have more on this later in the week. You can find more details here.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
- Art of Time Ensemble at the Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront, 8 p.m.
Where else but with Art of Time would you find mezzo Laura Pudwell sharing a stage with Jackie Richardson? There’s a promise of many riches from a programme combining dance and voice in a genre-crossing survey of spiritual music from the late Renaissance to the present day. Dave Earle has choreographed the five dancers. Andrew Burashko masterminds the music, which includes five soloists, Choir 21 and at least six instrumentalists. You’ll find more details here.
SATURDAY
- Opera Atelier presents Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio at the Elgin Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
The city’s period-minded opera company opens a two-production season with a revival of its colourful — and very funny — view of Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio. There are many welcome returning faces in the cast, as well as promising new ones. Marshall Pynkoski directs. David Fallis conducts members of Tafelmusik in the orchestra pit. Performances continue to Nov. 2. Details here.
- Violinist Lara St John with Sinfonia Toronto at George Weston Recital Hall, 8 p.m.
St John brings particular intensity and passion to everything she touches — which should serve Toronto’s premier string orchestra well as it celebrates its 15th birthday. Music director Nurhan Arman has put together an appealing, eclectic programme to showcase his soloist as well as the ensemble. You’ll find the details here.
SUNDAY
- Pianist Mauro Bertoli at the Newmarket Theatre, 2 p.m.
The concert presenters nor the pianist have provided any idea of what the programme might be. Bertoli has:
M. Clementi – Sonata op.47 n.2
L. van Beethoven – Six bagatelles op.126
Patrick Cardy (1953-2005) – Quips and Cranks, five bagatelles for piano
L. van Beethoven – Rondo a capriccio in G major, op.129
F. Mendelssohn – Rondo capriccioso in E major, op.14
F. Liszt – Improptu brillant on themes by Rossini and Spontini, SW 150
J. Brahms – Intermezzo op.118 n.2
E. Granados – Allegro da concierto
G. Martucci – Melodia op.16
F. Liszt – Hungarian Rhapsody n.6
Here he is playing a showpiece by Enrique Granados:
John Terauds